Chapter 70: I Will Go
While Gu Hang gathered all the help he could get, information from Revival City continued to come in.
Lambert had become the intelligence officer.
He had mobilized himself and his family’s connections to gather information from Revival City by every possible means.
At the same time, although Denison Henry was currently in Garbage Town, he had many partners in Revival City.
He was also actively using his connections to help collect information.
The situation in Revival City was becoming increasingly worrisome.
The one who initiated the lockdown was General Mondok.
He is the highest military commander in Revival City, which means the military forces of Revival City might now be standing against the Governor.
There was still no news about old Mr. Hodgson, his fate unknown. But what was even more worrying were the reports indicating that several key members of the Hodgson family were also missing, including Lambert’s father.
There were rumors that the bodies of Hodgson family servants had been found.
The Hodgson family estate was sealed off by the authorities, with armed soldiers guarding the perimeter, making it impossible for anyone to get close.
These were all extremely troubling pieces of information.
Inquiries sent to Revival City in the Governor’s name received responses, but they were utterly insincere.
The authorities claimed they had also noticed Chairman Hodgson’s disappearance and suspected it was the work of a heretical cult.
The lockdown and estate sealing were necessary measures to investigate the matter.
They promised to inform the Governor immediately if there were any findings.
Gu Hang didn’t believe a word of it.
If that were true, why did the authorities in Revival City not report Hodgson’s disappearance to him immediately?
It was only discovered when Lambert contacted his grandfather as usual.
Even more laughably, a second message from the Revival City authorities invited the Governor to return to Revival City to “take charge.”
However, citing difficulties in providing supplies and accommodations, they “requested” that the Governor’s entourage not exceed one hundred people.
At this point, Gu Hang confirmed that the situation in Revival City had completely spiraled out of control.
In response to this second message, Gu Hang sent back only four words:
“I will go.”
…
“He will come?”
Industrial magnate Norris cautiously asked. “Are you sure?”
“He said he would come, so it must be true,” Bradford replied.
“But our Governor doesn’t seem like someone who would walk into a trap. Even if he comes, he certainly won’t bring just a hundred people.”
Norris continued, “The people we have in his camp reported that seven suspected Star Warriors recently arrived there. If this is true, what will we do?”
“This…”
Bradford was stumped by the question.
His gaze involuntarily turned towards Mondok, with a hint of reproach.
Norris was already very dissatisfied. “I told you, we shouldn’t rush. That Governor Gu has vast resources, and now that he really has the help of Star Warriors, how are we going to deal with this?”
Mondok sneered, “Now you’re afraid? What’s the use? Old Norris, have you lost your old edge?”
Norris retorted, “What does this have to do with edge? No matter how daring you are, are you going to take on Star Warriors head-on?”
“Don’t worry too much,” Bradford tried to mediate. “This might not even be true. Star Warriors are legendary figures; how could they come at his beck and call? This could be a ruse by the Governor to throw us off. We can’t lose our composure.”
Despite his words, his expression betrayed unmistakable anxiety.
It’s probably false, but what if it’s true?
Seeing the two wavering, Mondok’s disdain only deepened. But he knew he still needed their support, so he had to give them some confidence.
“Firstly, Bradford is right; this could very well be a fabricated illusion by our Governor.”
“Secondly, even if it’s true, what’s there to be afraid of? Multiple intelligence sources indicate that there are a total of seven Star Warriors. Seven! We have a legion of ten thousand soldiers! We have 70 Challenger tanks! We have a hundred cannons of various types! Are we supposed to be afraid of seven Star Warriors? Have you watched too many pre-war stories and really think Star Warriors are divine beings? I’ve never believed in those exaggerated tales. They have one head and two hands like everyone else. Can they tear tanks apart with their bare hands? It’s laughable!”
After a pause, Mondok continued, “The Governor has just over a thousand men, with no heavy weapons. Stop worrying endlessly. Instead, help me with some tasks.”
Hearing Mondok’s confident words, Norris and Bradford felt slightly reassured.
On reflection, he had a point.
Even if there are Star Warriors, seven of them, what could they possibly achieve? Could they kill a thousand each and wipe out the Revival City legion?
But then, the cautious Norris raised another issue: “What about the orbital strike? Have you considered that?”
At this, Mondok fell silent for a moment.
Compared to the speculative Star Warriors, the Quintet floating in the sky was the real headache.
That massive starship wasn’t a myth; it was visibly floating in the sky, even observable with the naked eye on clear nights.
The main cannon of the Quintet might not obliterate the entire Revival City in one shot, but a few more would likely do the job.
Spending half a day to a full day meticulously bombing a city-sized area could ensure every inch of land was hit.
Revival City has underground air-raid shelters from wartime, and hiding there might offer some chance of surviving an orbital strike. But firstly, not many can hide there; secondly… even if people survive, what’s the point if the city is destroyed?
Can General Mondok magically produce food and ammunition to sustain his army?
Can industrial magnate Norris run his industry and mass production underground?
Can commercial tycoon Bradford still trade and make a fortune?
They couldn’t bear to lose the city.
They might look down on the tens of thousands of refugees outside the city, or even the ordinary residents inside the city. But these people were their true source of wealth.
Losing a few didn’t matter; losing the entire city and its population would ruin them too.
Yet, the starship problem was unsolvable.
In the end, all Mondok could say was, “Gu Hang wouldn’t do that. If Revival City is destroyed, he’ll die within two years!”